Display holder

• US 20090013573A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delockey, LLC
• Original Assignee: Delockey, LLC
• Inventors: Krinke, Alvern J., Krinke, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,591,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/606.10
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0207 Ticket
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles

Abstract

A device for displaying a disability parking certificate placard in a vehicle, with the device being movable from a storage position to a display position.

Claims

1. A device for displaying a disability parking certificate placard from within a vehicle comprising a dashboard and a windshield comprising:

a receptacle to receive a disability parking certificate placard for display connected by a joint to a mounting unit that is mountable in a fixed position on the dashboard, the windshield, or the intersection therebetween by a first fastener, with the receptacle further comprising a second fastener for fastening to the windshield, and with the receptacle being pivotable about the joint relative to the mounting unit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a housing portion for receiving the placard through a slot positioned on an edge of the housing portion.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the receptacle comprises a shaft portion positioned between the housing portion and the mounting unit.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the housing portion comprises a window for viewing the placard received in the receptacle.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the joint comprises a living hinge.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener each comprise two mating elements:

wherein one mating element of the first fastener is attached to the dashboard, the windshield, or the intersection therebetween and the other mating element of the first fastener is attached to the mounting unit; and

wherein one mating element of the second fastener is attached to the windshield and the other mating element of the second fastener is attached to the receptacle.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are selected from the group consisting of VELCRO, DUAL LOCK, magnets, adhesive, and hooks.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a leg attached to the housing by a second joint that allows the leg to be pivoted from a parallel position substantially parallel to the housing to a position at least about 30 degrees away from the parallel position.

9. A method for displaying a placard from within a vehicle comprising a dashboard and a windshield comprising:

providing a receptacle to receive a disability parking certificate placard for display connected by a joint to a mounting unit that is mountable in a fixed position onto the dashboard or the windshield by a first fastener, with the receptacle further comprising a second fastener for fastening to the windshield, and with the receptacle being pivotable about the joint relative to the mounting unit;

mounting the mounting unit onto the dashboard or the windshield;

resting the receptacle on the dashboard in a storage position;

pivoting the receptacle about the joint at least thirty degrees from the storage position to a display position wherein the second fastener is fastened to the windshield,

with the placard being visible through the windshield in the storage position and the display position.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising placing the placard in the receptacle using a force fit.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the receptacle comprises a housing portion having a slot positioned on an edge of the housing portion for receiving the placard into the housing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receptacle comprises a shaft portion positioned between the housing portion and the mounting unit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing portion comprises a window for viewing the placard received in the receptacle.

14. The method of claim 13,

wherein the first fastener and the second fastener each comprise two mating elements;

wherein one mating element of the first fastener is attached to the dashboard or the windshield and the other mating element of the first fastener is attached to the mounting unit; and

wherein one mating element of the second fastener is attached to the windshield and the other mating element of the second is attached to the receptacle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching the mating elements of the first fastener and detaching the mating elements of the second fastener to place the receptacle in the storage position.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching the mating elements of the first fastener and the second fastener to place the receptacle in the display position.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing the receptacle, the mounting unit, and the joint connecting the receptacle and the mounting unit from the vehicle by detaching the mating elements of the first fastener and the second fastener.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein either the first fastener or second fastener is selected from the group consisting of VELCRO, DUAL LOCK, magnets, adhesive, and hooks.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the joint comprises a living hinge.

20. The method of claim 9 wherein the device further comprises a leg attached to the housing with a second joint, and pivoting the leg about the second joint at least about 30 degrees after moving the device from the storage position to the display position, with the leg resting on a dashboard of the vehicle in the display position to support the housing in the display position.